TOBACCO GROWING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 13

TOBACCO GROWING

EXPORT POSSIBILITIES PROSPECTS IN PROVINCE MEN ON SMALL HOLDINGS Commenting on the report, published on December 20, concerning the successful sale in London of Nelson tobacco shipped bv the Port Hobart, Mr. H. L. Willis writes: " The published returns of the tobacco venture of the Government, whereby a consignment of Nelson-grown leaf realised an average price of over j 2s a pound on the London market, I makes interesting reading for New Zealandcrs generally and those who in- j vested in this industry during the last j six to seven years particularly. " The report stated that the above j price was considerably better than last,; year's. The consignment was grown in ! the Nelson district, but this does not I mean that only that part of New Zealand can produce exportable tobacco. " Equally good leaf has been grown : in the Auckland Province. The secret j of Nelson's success lies in the fact that her growers have experimented and learnt the variety of loaf suitable to each class of soil, and they confined their efforts to small acreages of from three to five acres. The result is that each grower can guarantee a certain return from his acreage; the leaf will be of even grade and quality. "His labour, whether local or imported, is well trained. Former Capital Losses " In this province tobacco growing has been a tragic venture; largo scale operations on untried soils without initial experiments, have resulted in loss of capital. 1 saw one plantation opened up on a peat swamp. " Now that the first hurdle has been overcome and our leaf is welcomed on the Homo market, it remains to develop the industry so that each year's consignment will meet with the same fair treatment. I presume the Tobacco Board will have its standard grades and only that leaf which reaches the higher grades will be exported. " As the area suitable for tobacco growing m the NeKou Province is limited. and the price of the land prohibitive for a new grower to start, I think this is a splendid opportunity to develop some of the ideal soils in this province. But (and there is a big hut), tobacco-growing is a specialised industry showing a big return per acre. A good grower will average £IOO per acre, but lie must learn patiently. There is no short cut to knowledge where tobacco is concerned. Applying Men to Task " This is an opportunity to develop the wdl-to-work of tustenance men. I would suggest that areas up to live acres each be allotted to selected men; 30 such areas to be a group; cottages he erected, the land broken in and fenced; the tenant to draw his present sustenance for three years. 1 lie I obacco Board would provide tuition, supervise and control the work, and purchase the leaf at the standard grade prices. At the end of the three years the tenant to have the option of buying his farm on a '2l years' agreement. He would be compelled to agree to grow tobacco for at least 11 years and the Government would, on its side, agree to purchase the crop over that period. " The results would be: (a) 'I he present sustenance money would be used to train men to become sell-sup-porting and self-respecting, (b) 'J'lio cost of the buildings, etc., would bo recovered in 24 years—three of these would he rent free, (c) A guaranteed supply of graded leaf would be grown annually, thus increasing our exports and building up our national wealth. "I trust the foregoing will attract attention to the real possibilities of this provinee f at present lying dormant and only a waiting development."